Severe heat wave scorches Mumbai

Similar conditions will prevail in Mumbai till March 16, after which there will be some respite,” said KS Hosalikar, scientist (surface instrument division), IMD. Monday’s reading also marked the hottest day of the year so far in Mumbai

Mumbai: A severe heat wave swept through the city on Monday, with both the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) monitoring stations at Santacruz and Colaba recording significantly above normal temperatures during the day -- at 39.6 degrees Celsius and 39.4 degrees Celsius respectively. As per the IMD, a severe heat wave in a coastal station, like Mumbai, is declared when the daytime maximum temperature is above 37 degrees Celsius and also at a departure of over 6.5 degrees above normal.

Pedestrians shield themselves by covering their heads during a blazing hot and humid climate as the mercury soars in the city on Monday. (Praful Gangurde/HT Photo)

“In case of Mumbai on Monday, not only was the daytime maximum above the 37 degrees Celsius threshold, the departure from normal was +7 degrees Celsius. When the departure from normal exceeds 6.5 degrees Celsius, it is counted as a severe heat wave. Similar conditions will prevail in Mumbai till March 16, after which there will be some respite,” said KS Hosalikar, scientist (surface instrument division), IMD. Monday’s reading also marked the hottest day of the year so far in Mumbai.

Officials attributed the sudden increase in mercury (up from 38.6 degrees the day prior) to increased intensity of solar radiation, which is typical for tropical regions at this time of the year. However, the formation of a high-pressure zone over parts of Central and Western India is aggravating warm conditions, explained a meteorologist with IMD’s regional forecasting Centre in Mumbai. “The city has already seen multiple heat wave days since March 3. The heat wave intensified on March 12 and March 13. Though Santacruz recorded 39.6 degrees Celsius, temperatures between 40 to 41 degrees Celsius may have been felt in isolated places across Mumbai on Monday,” the official said.

The increase in heat was also met with a decline in humidity. Relative humidity at Santacruz on Monday evening settled at an unusual 15%, resulting in dry heat conditions similar to those observed at inland locations, instead of the wet, muggy heat that is typical in Mumbai.

As per IMD’s seven-day forecast for Mumbai, the minimum temperature over the next week will hover between 23 and 24 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature will remain at around 39 degrees Celsius till March 16. Between March 17 and March 20, however, daytime temperatures will drop to around 36 degrees Celsius.

Last year the highest recorded maximum temperature was 40.9 degrees on March 28. The all-time highest maximum temperature recorded in the city for the month of March has been 41.7 degrees, on March 28, 1956.